Youshui River

　　In the northeastern part of Dafang County, Guizhou Province, and just across from the famous Hundred Miles Azalea Belt on Wangshan Mountain, there lies a mysterious land—the Youshui River basin.

　　For a long time, due to historical reasons and geographical constraints, this area has remained largely isolated or semi-isolated. The outside world knew only fragments of rumors about it, and those very rumors have added to its air of mystery.

　　In May 1992, Dafang County organized an exploration team that conducted the first comprehensive survey of Youshui River, finally beginning to unveil its mysterious veil.

　　The Youshui River originates from the northern foothills of Jiulong Mountain and belongs to the Chishui River system. The entire basin covers an area of approximately 41 square kilometers. Within Dafang, the main rivers are Youshui River and Houhe River, with dozens of winding streams and gullies, mostly situated at elevations above 1,400 meters. The highest point is Tianmen Peak of Houhe, at 1,810 meters above sea level, while the lowest is the mouth of Sancha River, at 800 meters, resulting in a relative height difference of between 350 to 100 meters. This forms steep cliffs and deep, serene valleys.

　　With high mountains and low-flowing waters, the area presents a grand and dramatic topography of great undulations—a typical karst peak-cluster incised valley landform.

　　The unique geographical environment of Youshui River means its transportation difficulties are comparable to those of the Jianmen Shu Road. It is precisely this ruggedness that has limited contact between Youshui River and the outside world, but at the same time, it has also slowed down the destruction of its forest vegetation, allowing some primeval forests and large areas of natural secondary forests to be preserved. The overall vegetation coverage in the area exceeds 80%.

　　Throughout the Youshui River basin, the landscape is covered with lush trees, shady canopies, thriving pines and bamboos, ancient and sprawling woodlands, clinging vines, and carpets of fragrant grasses. Ancient, towering, and rare plants are found everywhere.

　　Among the many precious plant species, Fujian cypress stands out. In the Youshui River basin, there are over 100,000 surviving Fujian cypresses, with more than 30,000 growing in contiguous patches covering a total area of 50 hectares. Such a large expanse of Fujian cypress has never been discovered in Guizhou before.

　　As for those scattered ancient, towering, and rare plants, each has its own unique characteristics and mystique.

　　Boxwood trees, also known as "thousand-year dwarfs," are represented in Youshui River by three particularly massive specimens. These three boxwoods grow atop three ancient tombs, their trunks twisted and gnarled like dragons, ancient and dignified; their crowns are round, fluffy, and lushly green. From afar, they resemble three huge emerald velvet balls—an awe-inspiring sight.

　　There is an ancient red bean tree in Youshui River, worshipped by local villagers as a “sacred tree.” This tree, over 600 years old, is surrounded by numerous legendary and fantastical tales. Today, the old tree remains vibrant with fresh greenery. Nearby, there is also a ginkgo grove composed of 78 trees of varying sizes, the largest of which has a diameter of 2.1 meters at breast height, with nine trees exceeding one meter in diameter. The whole grove is lush and leafy, forming a canopy that blocks out the sky like a small hill.

　　Youshui River is also home to ancient white poplar trees with gnarled, rustic trunks; colossal, towering castanopsis trees; several varieties of azaleas not even found in the Hundred Miles Azalea Belt; as well as countless strange and unnameable trees and plants. According to preliminary surveys, there are over 50 families, more than 100 genera, and around 300 species of various trees and shrubs here.

　　What Youshui River offers is not just rich forest and wild resources. There is also the breathtaking beauty of real mountains and waters, like something out of a painting or a fairyland—an untouched primitive scenery that takes your breath away and makes you never want to leave. The area features continuous ranges of peculiar peaks, jagged rocks, deep valleys, murmuring waterfalls, crystal-clear streams, and dense forests. It combines the beauty of mountains, rocks, flowing springs, and woodlands, embodying the charm of grandeur, wonder, serenity, and seclusion. It’s truly a spectacle. The two main rivers of the Youshui River basin both originate from elevations above 1,500 meters, flow for less than 15 kilometers before converging, with a total drop of around 700 meters. As a result, the river water rushes violently, creating continuous cascading waterfalls. Along the way, streams and springs pour in, composing a stunningly beautiful and majestic landscape.

　　Each river has its own distinctive features. The banks of Houhe River are relatively gentle, with thick soil layers and lush vegetation. The river alternates between fierce torrents, cascading flows, serene depths, and calm stretches. In the middle reaches of Youshui River, steep cliffs rise on either side, like gates of overlapping mountains. The gully is shaded and misty, with hanging vines and a chilling atmosphere. Looking up, only a sliver of sky can be seen between the cliffs, with clouds drifting by; looking down, a thread of river flows deeply and darkly below.

　　Also breathtaking are the various sized streams and waterfalls. Some cascade like silver rivers hanging upside down, others flow like white silk ribbons through the air, some drift like wispy veils, and others hang like bead curtains. “Nine Heavens Waterfall,” “One-Line Waterfall,” “Twin Flying Waterfall,” “Nine-Tiered Waterfall,” “Pearl Waterfall,” “Floating Silk Waterfall”—the list goes on. This spectacular scenery rivals even that of Mount Lu.

　　Climbing to Mazongling in the central part of Youshui River and looking around, you can take in all the surrounding mountain ridges and valleys. The distant mountains form overlapping layers, shrouded in mist, while the nearby ones feature undulating valleys and majestic presence. After rain when the skies clear, the moisture lingers, forests are lush with green haze, and thin mists rise along the valley, with light smoke curling through the deep and shallow valleys. The distant and near mountains are draped in veils of cloud, resembling a fairyland.

　　The upper reaches of Houhe River feature towering peaks, jagged rocks, and grotesque stones. The mountain rocks take on a thousand different shapes, with lifelike and striking resemblances—truly the work of nature’s divine craftsmanship. “Tianmen Peak” is the highest peak in Youshui River, with all other peaks in the area encircling and paying homage to it, presenting a majestic scene of a king ruling over his court. “Jade Pot Peak,” “Goddess Peak,” “Writing Brush Peak,” “Peacock Rock,” “Mother and Child Rock,” “Husband and Wife Rock,” “Wishful Stone,” and “Sky-Supporting Rock” each offer a unique view with every step, each radiating its own character.

　　“Xianyu Deng” is the most famous mountain in Youshui River and a must-visit scenic spot. This mountain rises abruptly from flat land and is surrounded by water on three sides. Viewed from the front, it looks like a pillar reaching the sky; from the side, like a giant screen; from afar, like a cluster of peaks; and up close, like thousand-foot cliffs. The path up the mountain is extremely challenging, but once you reach the summit, you’ll find a small Guanyin temple. Truly, “it is not the height of the mountain, but the presence of the divine that makes it famous.”

　　“Tied Belly Rock,” as the name suggests, speaks for its danger. It was once the only passage in the lower reaches of Youshui River. A sheer cliff over 200 meters high stands abruptly, where the path suddenly ends, forcing travelers to rely on a natural fault in the rock face as a “plank walkway.” At its narrowest point, the path is as thin as a fish’s back, with dangerous rocks jutting out. To cross, one must press their belly against the cliff and slide past, with nothing but a hundred-meter drop behind them. It’s enough to make one’s hands sweat and head spin, not daring to look elsewhere. However, today one no longer needs to press their belly to get across. It remains extremely treacherous, and travelers must still proceed with extreme caution.

　　Youshui River, the mysterious Youshui River—a naturally gifted treasure trove of resources, a pristine natural scenic area of exceptional beauty, a peerless beauty hidden away, a piece of pure virgin land. Once discovered, understood, developed, and utilized by people, this time-worn unpolished jade will reveal its rightful brilliance and become an invaluable, priceless treasure.